Caching query strings

WP Rocket does not cache pages with query strings by default, although there are some very specific exceptions (see below). 

A query string is where you have a URL that contains a question mark followed by a parameter and a value, like this:

example.com/page/?country=italy

In this case, country is the parameter and italy is the value.

If you want these types of pages to be cached, go to the Advanced Rules settings tab, and add each parameter in the Cache Query String(s) text field (one per line):

When you do this, a dedicated cache file will be generated for each value the parameter country receives in a URL.

If there are multiple parameters in a URL, as long as one of your specified parameters is present, the page will be cached.
For example, if country is a cached parameter, the following URL will be cached:

example.com/page/?country=italy&wine=red

Additionally, all  special characters included in parameters will be stripped from the box but will still work. For example, if you have a country[] parameter, the Cache Query String(s) box will only show country. Despite this setting behavior, the caching will work for URLs such as

example.com/page/?country[]=italy

Ignored query string parameters with standard caching

For all of the parameters listed below, WP Rocket will ignore the query string and serve the standard cache file, regardless of any parameter values in the URL. Here’s what that means:

example.com/about-us/?gclid=something 
example.com/about-us/?gclid=somethingelse  

// will BOTH receive the cache file from:
example.com/about-us/

If you would like to customize the list of ignored parameters, please see this guide.

• Age Verify plugin: age-verified
• Autoptimize: ao_noptimize
• AMP: usqp
• Cookie Notice: cn-reloaded
• ShareASale: sscid

ActiveCampaign

• vgo_ee

Adobe Advertising Cloud

• ef_id

Adobe Analytics

• s_kwcid

Bronto

• _bta_tid
• _bta_c

Dotdigital

• dm_i

Facebook:

• fb_action_ids
• fb_action_types
• fb_source
• fbclid
• fbadid

Google Analytics and Ads:

• utm_source
• utm_campaign
• utm_medium
• utm_expid
• utm_term
• utm_content
• utm_id
• utm_source_platform
• utm_creative_format
• utm_marketing_tactic
• _ga
• gclid
• campaignid
• adgroupid
• adid
• gbraid
• wbraid
• gadid
• gad_source
• gad_campaignid

Google Web Stories:

• _gl

Google DoubleClick

• gclsrc
  

Google Shopping

• srsltid

GoDataFeed

• gdfms
• gdftrk
• gdffi

Klaviyo

• _ke
• _kx

Listrak:

• trk_contact
• trk_msg
• trk_module
• trk_sid

Mailchimp:

• mc_cid
• mc_eid

Marin

• mkwid
• pcrid

Matomo:

• mtm_source
• mtm_medium
• mtm_campaign
• mtm_keyword
• mtm_cid
• mtm_content

Microsoft Advertising

• msclkid

Pinterest

• epik
• pp

Piwik Pro:

• pk_source
• pk_medium
• pk_campaign
• pk_keyword
• pk_cid
• pk_content

Springbot

• redirect_log_mongo_id
• redirect_mongo_id
• sb_referer_host

Please note: A dedicated cache file will be created when the parameters found in the dedicated caching section below or those placed on the Advanced Rules tab referenced above are included in the URL.

URLs with multiple ignored parameters

A query string can also contain multiple parameter/value pairs, chained by  & characters. Example:

example.com/page/?utm_source=this&utm_campaign=that&utm_medium=theother

In cases where you have a mixture of ignored parameters (from the list above) and others not on the list, the page will not be cached. Parameters in the URL must all be present in the ignored list for the page to be cached.

Parameters with dedicated caching

• lang
• permalink_name
• lp-variation-id

For all of the parameters listed above, WP Rocket will serve the dedicated cache file, depending on the parameter values in the URL. Here’s what that means:

example.com/about-us/?lang=english
example.com/about-us/?lang=french

// will create a dedicated cache file for their parameter/value pairs:

?lang=english
?lang=french

WooCommerce Geolocation Support

In WooCommerce there is the option to enable Geolocation (with page caching support):

When that option is active, WooCommerce appends a query string to each URL, like this:

v=42983b05e2f2

WP Rocket automatically caches those parameters. 

Search results (dedicated caching)

The standard parameter for WordPress search results is: s 
However, the Cache query strings option will not enable caching for this parameter. To cache search results, please install the helper plugin found here.

Caching query strings and Cloudflare APO

Cloudflare APO is not compatible with the Cache Query String(s) feature unless it's used along with Cache Everything. Please find more information here.

Parameters containing non-Latin or encoded characters

Parameters containing non-Latin or encoded characters cannot be added to the Cache Query String(s) text field to be cached, because special characters are ignored.

Query strings examples:  attribute_%e9%a1%8f%e8%89%b2 , attribute_顏色

However, you can still add them by using the following helper plugin:

📥   Download (.zip): WP Rocket | Add Custom Cache Query Strings
Developers: You can find the code for this plugin on GitHub.

Heads up! The helper plugin doesn't work on its own. Manual code edit is required before use!

Use the README.md file for the specific details about how to apply each customization.

To customize the helper plugin, please:

1. Download the helper plugin ZIP file and extract it.
2. Open the wp-rocket-add-custom-cache-query-strings.php file using a text/code editor.
3. Apply the required customization(s) as per the README.md file.
   
4. Save changes.
5. Compress the helper files into a ZIP file.
6. On your site - go to Plugins → Add New → Upload plugin, and select the ZIP file.
7. Activate the plugin.

If you need further help, please contact support.